SAN DIEGO, May 24, 2014 — Many of us are looking forward to a three-day weekend. Many of us think of it as the gateway to summer, a break to enjoy warmer weather, family, friends, and favorite activities. I wholeheartedly embrace our national celebration of the American way of life.

But let’s please remember the reason for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans today: the sacrifices made by millions of individuals and their families through military service to our great nation.

Honoring those who defend our nation on Memorial Day.

Waterloo, New York is credited as the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. The people of Waterloo started a community celebration on May 5, 1866. It was originally called “Decoration Day” and was intended as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of thousands of Civil War dead with flowers.

The name was changed to Memorial Day in 1882, and it was moved in 1971 to the last Monday in May.

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally observed with by parades, memorial speeches, reenactments and living history demonstrations, and the decoration of sacred graves at our national cemeteries with flowers and flags.

A lovely modern tradition began in 1997 and is now officially recognized by the President and Members of Congress. The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3:00 pm local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.

The Moment of Remembrance was initiated by No Greater Love, a Washington, DC-based national humanitarian organization. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”

Boiling the honorable contributions made by those who died defending our nation to mere numbers might seem impersonal. But is it also sobering, and enlightening. For each number in this list, there is a fallen hero, a family in mourning… and a grateful nation.

Laurie Edwards-Tate, MS, President and Founder of At Your Home Familycare in San Diego, California, was among the first to recognize the growing need for services allowing individuals to remain independent created by the aging of America including the Baby Boomer generation, now being called the “Silver Tsunami.” It is the Baby Boomers who are rapidly redefining what aging and growing older means and looks like in America today.
Now celebrating its 28th year in business, AYHF is among San Diego County’s Top Women-Owned Businesses and Fastest Growing Businesses, and enjoys a reputation for upholding the highest possible standards among its employees and its emphasis on customer service. Edwards-Tate is a valued contributor to the public dialogue on current issues and challenges in the home care industry, and serves in leadership roles on the Home Care Aide Association of America Advisory Board and Private Duty Home Care Association Advisory Board, as well as the Home Care Aide Steering Committee of the California Association for Health Services at Home.
Edwards-Tate is frequently interviewed in the media on healthy aging, caregiving, and health care topics.
Follow Laurie and AYHF at www.atyourhomefamilycare.com; on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atyourhomefamilycare, and Twitter at @AYHFamilycare